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Links || Reaching Back Presskit || Reborn Presskit |
 Nea
Anna Simone began her first attempt at writing following a conversation
with her best friend and prayer partner Dana Nelson. One afternoon Dana
called Nea and after their conversation had reached the end, she confided
the real reason for her call. Dana told Nea that while she had been in
prayer God had given her a message…. simply stated it was that Nea should
write. Uncertain as to the meaning of the message, Nea asked for clarification
as to the content. She had recently experienced great personal loss and
tragedy. Consequently she thought she was being urged to record this period
of loss and transition for reflection at a later point in her life. As
clarification, Dana stated, “No…God wants you to write…if you’ll do that
He’ll take care of everything else. So Nea conceded and started writing
her first novel Reaching BACK that evening. The first thirty pages of the
novel never changed and she began writing nightly after putting her three
children to bed as a form of release and entertainment.
Over time, Reaching BACK became a journey through the complexities of four generations of African American women struggling with a myriad of issues centering on the myth intrinsic in the black community of the superiority of light vs. dark skin. Thus began her literary journey and God was true to His word…without rhyme or reason He opened doors and placed people in her life. Consequently BET/Kensington Books as a Trade Paperback published Reaching BACK. BET Books signed Nea under the Sepia Imprint and her first novel was published as a Trade paperback….a first for BET with debut authors. Another first came when Reaching BACK was selected as an “Original Voice of Fiction” by BORDERS Bookstores and reviewed as “A great literary work.” It was the first work published by BET to receive literary acclaim. Next, Black Expressions reviewed REACHING BACK as a “Notable work of Fiction…a fresh new literary voice.” On the heels of that acknowledgement, Nea was asked to attend the 8th annual BET Walk of Fame luncheon honoring Stevie Wonder and her book was selected as the gift to all attendees. In August 2003, Nea received the Atlanta Daily World Reader’s Choice Award for Fiction for her debut novel Reaching BACK. Many book clubs and organizations have invited Nea as a guest speaker, entertaining audiences far and wide with her humorous and heart-felt anecdotes and real life words of encouragement. Nea's sophomore novel ReBORN is the sequel to Reaching BACK. "It was the only logical step" states Nea... Reaching BACK was about confrontation the next step is self-realization...that is where ReBORN take you. ReBORN has been submitted for nomination of the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award. Currently Ms. Simone is at work on her third novel A Memory of Love. Nea believes that God has had His hand on her and she has willingly followed His lead. If you would like Nea to participate in an event as a guest or panel speaker and/or visit your book club meeting for a reading and discussion please email your request to: booksignings@neasimone.com |
ISBN: 1-58314-317-3 Price: $15/$21 CAN Reborn
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Nea Anna Simone Fayetteville, Ga. Created By  |
